Traffic Department

Plea Options

You have several options to how you plea on a civil infraction ticket.

Admit Responsibility

You may admit responsibility and pay the ticket. You may pay in person at the Court between the hours of 8:30 a.m - 4:30 p.m. or mail your payment to the Court. Please call the Court to verify the amount owed before mailing a payment. The Court accepts checks, cash, money orders, and certified checks. The Court accepts credit cards online through a third-party provider. You can pay civil infractions on or before due date online through CLEMIS. A service fee will be charged.

Admit Responsibility With Explanation

You may admit responsibility with explanation of the circumstances of the violation, which the Court may consider in determining the amount of your fines and costs. The offense will not be dismissed or reduced and any licensing points imposed by the Secretary of State will not be reduced or modified in any way.

Deny Responsibility & Request an Informal Hearing

You may deny responsibility for the offense and request an informal hearing in front of a Magistrate. The officer and any necessary parties will be subpoenaed for the hearing. Both you and the police officer will be required to present the facts of your case to the Magistrate. The Magistrate will then make a determination as to your responsibility for the offense based on the evidence presented. Neither party may have an attorney present for an informal hearing. Please call the Court if you would like to request an informal hearing.

Deny Responsibility & Request a Formal Hearing

You may deny responsibility for the offense and request a Formal Hearing in front of a Judge. The officer and any necessary parties will be subpoenaed for the hearing and will be represented by the prosecuting attorney. You may also have an attorney present. Both parties will be required to present the facts of the case to the Judge. The Judge will then make a determination as to your responsibility for the offense based on the evidence presented. Please call the Court if you would like to request a formal hearing.

Request an Adjournment of a Court Date

Requests for adjournments are discouraged, but will be considered for good cause. No adjournments will be granted less than 7 days before the scheduled court date unless there are verifiable emergency circumstances. If you would like to ask for an adjournment, please contact the Traffic Department at 248-618-7591.

Warning

If you fail to pay, appear or request a hearing by the date specified on your citation, a default judgment will be entered against you. A person who fails to answer a citation is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Please note that if you decide to request a hearing, it would be on a subsequent date, not on the same day as your Civil Infraction Conference. To request a Civil Infraction Conference online, submit an Online Hearing Request.